China has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for exacerbating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, accusing him of “pouring oil” on an already volatile situation.
The rebuke came after Trump issued a dramatic warning on his Truth Social platform, calling on residents of Tehran to “immediately evacuate” following a surge in missile exchanges between the two longtime adversaries.
The U.S. leader also called for Iran to return to the negotiating table, even as talks on Tehran’s nuclear program were disrupted by Israel’s surprise aerial attacks.
Responding to Trump’s remarks during a press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said:
“Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict.”
Guo urged all parties — particularly nations with significant sway over Israel — to take concrete steps to cool tensions and prevent the conflict from spiraling further out of control.
China, which has been working to position itself as a global mediator, also took urgent measures to protect its citizens in the region. Its embassy in Israel issued a notice advising Chinese nationals to leave the country “as soon as possible” using land routes, specifically recommending departure through Jordan.
In a statement posted on WeChat, the embassy warned:
“Much civilian infrastructure has been damaged, civilian casualties are on the rise, and the security situation is becoming more serious.”
This move underscores growing international concern over the deepening military confrontation. Since Israel launched its aerial campaign against Iranian targets last week, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, both nations have engaged in near-daily missile exchanges. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
As fears of a regional war mount, Beijing has reaffirmed its call for dialogue and restraint, while criticizing Western rhetoric and military maneuvers seen as inflammatory.
What you should know
China has condemned Donald Trump’s comments and warned that inflammatory rhetoric could worsen the already tense Iran-Israel conflict. Urging responsible diplomacy, China has also started evacuating its citizens from Israel, reflecting deepening global alarm over the situation’s escalation.
